Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has taken aim at Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola - claiming that he likes to suffocate teams and players with his tactics.
Hamann, who also represented City in his playing days, was speaking after his former club’s Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid.
Taking a 4-3 lead into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, Riyad Mahrez’s 73rd minute goal had put Guardiola's two goals clear in the tie. But that was until one of the most dramatic comebacks of all time.
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Rodrygo scored a stunning equaliser before he dramatically headed Madrid ahead just seconds later. Ruben Dias then went in clumsily on Karim Benzema in the opening five minutes of extra-time and gave away a penalty - which the striker slotted home to send his side to the final as 6-5 aggregate winners.
And when reflecting on the game post-match, Hamann couldn’t help but take aim at the City boss for the way he sets his side up. The former Germany international also made comparisons between the Catalan and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Madrid chief Carlo Ancelotti.
“If you give players responsibility they act responsible. If you try to play the game for them they won’t,” the German wrote on Twitter.
“Guardiola suffocates teams and players to make their own decisions. Compare that to Ancelotti or Klopp teams.”
While in an interview with Sky Sports, Hamann said: "It was really heartbreaking (for Man City), they led over the two legs for most of the time.
"But then again, they conceded five goals when Real Madrid hardly had a chance. Ederson only made four saves in the two legs. I always feel with Guardiola's teams that he kind of takes the responsibility off them, and you can’t win games on a tactic board.
"Once the whistle goes, you have to make decisions and not for the first time, and his teams made the wrong decisions at the wrong time."
